Safe Driving Practices and Special Conditions
Space and speed
Use the three-second rule: when the vehicle ahead passes a fixed object, count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three." If you reach the object first, you are too close. Add a second in rain and much more on ice or snow. Increase the gap behind motorcycles, trucks, and in work zones, where speeding fines are doubled when workers are present.
Bad weather and low traction
Use low-beam headlights in fog, rain, or snow; high beams reflect back and make visibility worse. Massachusetts requires headlights whenever your wipers are on. If you hydroplane, ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel steady - do not brake hard or jerk the wheel. In a skid, steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If your car has anti-lock brakes, press the pedal firmly and steer; do not pump. Turn off cruise control on wet or slippery pavement. Black ice forms first on bridges, overpasses, and shaded curves.
Distraction, fatigue, and breakdowns
Massachusetts requires hands-free phone use; a single touch or swipe to activate a device is allowed, texting is not. Drowsiness impairs you much like alcohol - pull over and rest. If you break down, pull as far off the roadway as possible, turn on hazard lights, raise the hood, and stay belted inside if you are on a highway.
Worked example: At 60 mph you cover about 88 feet each second, so a "two car length" gap is nowhere near enough. Count seconds, not car lengths, and add time for rain, darkness, or a heavy load.